This summer unfolded in three phases.
Phase 1: The Big City and The Ozarks
Phase 2: Austin Adventures
Phase 3: Road Trip
The Big City and The Ozarks
Our summer kicked off just after school ended with a flight to New York City (Parker's first!) to visit Eileen and Hatton and for Cara to play for the Torch in a game against Gridlock. PUL! It was great hanging out with Hatton and Eileen and their two awesome kids, Max and Joseph. The Torch lost a close game, but once again it was awesome being able to watch Cara play in front of a pretty good sized crowd (@ Columbia University's stadium) with the girls. Huge thanks to Eileen and the Hatton boys for hosting us and loving us. We love you.
Parker and Eileen, just one of a thousand smiles from the weekend
The Big City!
Family Photo from Sinatra Park in New Jersey
After returning from NYC, we had a couple days in Austin for laundry and repacking for our next adventure to join the Crouches in the Ozarks for a fishing cabin weekend where the White and Buffalo Rivers meet. Cara and the girls drove up with Opah and NanaCC, while I drove up separately to Oklahoma City to play Regionals with Viejo, a Master's Ultimate frisbee team before meeting them on the river for 4 days of relaxing and family time. It was beautiful up there, we'll be back!
We stayed with a Brown cousin, Dennis and Doris, on the way up in their beautiful house/ranch in Springdale, AR. They had two horses that enamored Sybil and Parker.
Syb takes after her Mama and loves a good tree climb. This one in Dennis's yard was the perfect height.
These are the cliffs along the White River just on the other side from our cabin.
Cara's first fish caught from the banks on our first day. Bigger ones to come!
On the second day: Cara, NanaCC, and Uncle Hoyt rented a White River John boat to take out in the hopes of catching some rainbow or brown trout.
They did not disappoint and everyone came home having caught their maximum of rainbow trout for the day.
Uncle Hoyt!
The next day, I was able to sneak away in the morning and go for a MTB ride in the Syllamo National Forest nearby. I rode a 12 mile trail that wound through the mountains that took just under 2 hours. It seemed like I had the whole forest to myself! Solitude comes with a price, and after the ride I pulled off around 15 ticks from my legs and found one later when I was swimming back at the river that had latched on to my butt. I hope to be back soon to the Ozarks for a future bikepacking trip.
Lounging on the side of the river
Playing with new friends!
It was great spending time with Cara's family. Uncle Hoyt is so awesome with the girls, and we are so thankful to have them in our lives. Thanks for the great week!